Thanksgiving for Thousands

I am an Auxiliary member of Oak Orchard/Riverdale American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro, Del. In our area, typically called the Delmarva region because it includes portions of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia there is an event held every year at Thanksgiving called "Thanksgiving for Thousands". It started with the Dagsboro Church of God feeding local needy people on Thanksgiving day. Soon Mountaire Chicken helped grow the project to it's current status. This November, in it's 15th year, Mountaire's "Thanksgiving for Thousands" will feed 30,000 needy people for Thanksgiving by packing 6,500 boxes. The Giant Food Corporation became a partner this year. Last year, Post 28 became a partner with Mountaire in the "Thanksgiving for Thousands". At our Post home in Millsboro, Del., we packed 1,300 food boxes. The box contains a 7-8 lb.chicken,potatoes,stuffing,yams,gravy,cranberry,
vegetables,cake mix & bread. The work is all done by volunteers except for the chicken,trucks and transportation needs provided by Mountaire. We advertise and solicit businesses for donations to be able to purchase the food needed to fill the boxes. It was a two day event as we spend Sunday setting up the Bingo Hall into a production line assembly and unloading the truck full of food into the Hall. We have over 100 volunteers to pack boxes. Monday afternoon we pass out the boxes at our Post home to needy families in the Delmarva area. This year, 2009, as we entered our second year as a partner with Giant & Mountaire's "Thanksgiving for Thousands" we held a "Thanksgiving in August" at our local Giant and collected food and monetary donations. We are holding a second food drive this week and are looking forward to the actual event which will take place on November 23. We plan to pack 2000 boxes at the post this year. The event is a wonderful experience as it is a day we all come together to provide for our community in need. Look for pictures posted on our Auxiliary website www.ALPost28.com.